Question on Formula

[Sheri1972]

Hey!

I've got a question about formula.  I'm currently breastfeeding my son via bottle, but I have to supplement because I'm not making enough milk for him.  I'm on medication from the doctor but it's not really helping.

Anyway, I've been using Enfamil Soy because the Similac seemed to make him gassy, and he's still having a lot of trouble with spitting up and painful gas.  Frankly, he sort of does the same with my breastmilk.  The doctor says that some babies just spit up a lot and he'll grow out of it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on other formula to try?   I was wondering about the Enfamil A.R. or the Enfamil Gentleease?

Sheri

[pinkbelle]

my baby girl was just like that... super fussy so we switched her to enfamil ar and it helped with the spit up but she was still fussy so finally we put her on good start soy and shes a much better baby.. they have us thickening her formula with rice cereal because she has acid reflux.. does your baby arch their back alot?

[Sheri1972]

Hi there!

He is really obvious when he is in pain... he does arch and turn red, and he literally screams.  He doesn't do it all the time, but maybe 2 to 3 times a day after a bottle.  He has trouble settling down to sleep after becuase I think he's hurting, even after gas drops.  We're burping him constantly and I've tried Avent Bottles with Drop In Liners, Playtex with Drop Ins, and Ventaire Bottles.  None of them make a difference in his discomfort.

You can just tell he hurts!  He also is projectile vomiting his formula occasionally and spitting up some but the doc said he doesn't have anything physical wrong.  He vomited this morning after a bottle and cried in pain right after.  I felt so bad for him!  He's a bit of a piglet and ***** his food down really fast, and I think that's what is causing the stuff to come back up.  This last time he had already taken his bottle but was crying for more an hour later so I stupidly gave him another ounce.  I think it was too much, but he was acting hungry again and crying.

We are doing the Soy right now, except instead of Good Start we are using the Enfamil Lipil Soy.  I know a lot of people like the Good Start, so we might give that a try.  I was also wondering about the GentleEase, which you can pretty much get in the Wal-Mart Parent's Choice Brand.  I'm not really sure the milk is a problem for him, since he does the same thing with breastmillk, regular formula, or soy.  

[tbeards]

I am so sorry to hear of the gassiness. It is so painful for both baby and mommy : ( My baby was pretty gassy but I ended up using the Dr. Browns bottles (they have single BPA free 4 oz and 8 oz bottles to try) and then used Enfamil - For Babies Who Spit Up Often (darker pink can). The bottle reduces air that can get sucked in and the formula has potato starch in it so it makes it a little thicker. Please note that you have to use at least one size larger nipple because of it's thickness. Also, it is a little harder to shake up to mix so we used those portable handheld mixers you can get from BabysRUs for $2.99. The spit up and gassiness in our dd practically disappeared overnight.

Another helpful hint is when your baby is gassy and in pain, cradle your son in one arm and hold his legs to his tummy (like the fetal position) and the pressure will help relieve the gas. Not too tight though. This worked wonders for my baby girl and all of my gassy nieces and nephews : )

Your baby could also have acid reflux. A sign of this is a metallicy smell of their spit up sort of like smelling a penny. Sounds weird but it can be very painful for your baby.